New York Homeschool Requirements Explained (2025 Guide)

Did you know that in over 70% of New York’s school districts, the number of homeschooled students has tripled? Parents who choose homeschooling in NY are creating customized and meaningful learning experiences on their own terms while spending more time together as a family!

The homeschooling requirements in New York State are fairly strict, but don’t let that deter you! In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to start homeschooling in NY!

Homeschooling in New York State at a Glance

New York- The Empire State

Required Age	6-16 (or 17, depending on district)
Standardized Testing	Required
Subjects	18 subjects required over the K-12 period
Time Requirements	900 hours for K-6th and 990 hours for 7th+, over a period of 180 days
Graduation Requirements	Determined by the State of New York
Special Requirements	Parents must file quarterly reports
Financial Resources Available	No

Parent Qualifications 

There are no parental qualifications or requirements for homeschooling in NY.

Notice of Intent

To start homeschooling in New York, you’ll need to file a written Notice of Intent. This must be done with your local school district superintendent within 14 days of withdrawing your child from school.

They will respond within 10 business days and provide you with the list of New York State homeschool regulations, as well as an individualized home instruction plan (IHIP) form to complete.

Attendance

Parents must teach for a minimum of 900 hours for grades K-6th or 990 hours for grades 7th through 12th. The hourly requirement must be spread over a minimum of 180 days.

Homeschool Curriculum

The State of New York has a lot of curriculum requirements, but don’t worry! We’ve broken it down by grade level groups for ease of use:

All Grades: K-12

Each year during grades K-12, students must learn about: 

1. Patriotism and citizenship
2. Health education regarding alcohol, drug, and tobacco misuse
3. Highway safety and traffic regulations, including bicycle safety
4. Fire and arson prevention and safety (Education Law, sections 801, 804, 806 and 808)

Grades 1-6

During each school year for grades 1-6, students must learn about:

Math	U.S. history
Reading	Science
Spelling	Health education
Writing	Physical education
The English language	Geography
	Bilingual education and/or English as a second language (if necessary)

Grades 7-8

Beginning in 7th grade, subject requirements are dictated by unit amounts. Units are cumulative through each grade level group (7-8 and 9-12). (NYS 100.10)

It may be helpful to think of each unit as two semesters: For example, you must teach the four core classes for four semesters total but art for only one semester. 

Subject	Units
English	2
History and geography	2
Science	2
Math	2
Art	½
Music	½
Physical education	On a regular basis
Health education	On a regular basis
Practical arts	On a regular basis
Library skills	On a regular basis

Additional Courses, Grades 1-8

Students must study each of the following at least once during grades 1-8: 

1. United States history
2. New York State history
3. The Constitutions of the United States and New York State

Grades 9-12

Subject	Units
English	4
Social studies (including 1 unit of American history and .5 unit each of participation in government and economics)	4
Electives	3
Math	2
Science	2
Physical education	2
Art and/or music	1
Health education	½

Testing

New York’s homeschool laws exempt homeschooled students from taking the state exam. Instead, students must take an assessment or nationally normed standardized test of their parents’ choosing. These scores are submitted with the final quarterly report during testing years.

Testing requirements differ by grade level group:

• Grades 1-3: Standardized testing or an alternative form of evaluation, like a written narrative about their progress, is required yearly.
• Grades 4-8: Standardized testing is required at least every other year. An alternative form of evaluation may be used on the off years.
• Grades 9-12: Standardized testing is required yearly.

Record Keeping

The only item you must keep are attendance records and annual evaluations. Parents must document the total number of instruction hours on each quarterly report. For secondary grades, the NYSED recommends including the hours spent per subject, in addition to the total.

While not required, other good items to keep in your homeschool portfolio include: 

• A list of courses taken
• Final grades earned
• Documentation of extracurricular activities
• Copies of any school correspondence

Graduation Requirements

New York is one of the few states that have graduation requirements for homeschooled students. To graduate, homeschoolers must complete all curriculum requirements for grades 9-12, as listed above. Parents are able to provide a homeschool diploma upon completion.

However, if your child is wanting to attend a post-secondary school in New York, their homeschool diploma may not be accepted. In this case, your student may:

1. Request a “Letter of Substantial Equivalency” from your school district
2. Take the GED exam to earn a high school equivalency diploma
3. Take a specific sequence of 24 credit classes at a community college

Financial Resources

Unfortunately, there are no state-provided financial resources available for homeschoolers at this time.

Other Tips & Resources

For more information about homeschooling in New York State, check out: 

• New York State Education Department – Home Instruction
• NYC Department of Education – Home Schooling

If you’re wondering whether Miacademy or MiaPrep would be the best homeschool curriculum for your family, feel free to reach out to our friendly customer service team! They’ll be happy to help you find the answers you need.